Stacking box



E. T. INSOLL STACKING BOX Filed July 25, 1942 Oct. 29, 1946.

2 .Shets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ldWa/w 7. [/76 0// Oct. 29,1946; E. T. INSOLL2,410,216

v .STACKING 50x Filed July 25, 1942' 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 INVENTOR.

z T1 v ZZ/Wd/d 71/290 fi awzw Af-Forngy Patented Oct. 29, 1946 UNITEDSTATE PATENT? OFFICE STACKING BOX Edward T. Insoll, Chicago, Ill.

Application July 23, 1942, Serial No. 452,000

7 Claims. 1

The main objects of thi invention are:

First, to provide a stacking box suitable for the reception andtransportation of merchandise of various types, which is strong andsturdy in. construction notwithstanding its lightness in weight, beingfabricated of relatively inexpensive non-metallic materials.

Second, to provide a stacking box having stacking bars capable of beingalso employed as handles which are swingably connected to the box in anovel manner.

Third, to provide a stacking box of the type described includingstacking bars and means for supporting the latter on the body of the boxin operative position in a manner to prevent lateral movement of afurther box superimposed or stacked thereon.

Fourth, to provide a box of the type described having various details ofimprovement in the construction of the box per se which lends addedrigidity and strength thereto, enabling the same to withstand impactsand rough treatment suc.

mies of my inventionwill appear from the description to follow. Theinvention is defined in the claims. Y

A structure embodying the features of my invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of my invention,illustrating one ofthe stacking bars thereof inoperative stackingposition and the other thereof in collapsed position.

fied form of box contemplated by the invention, which is fabricated inthe main of plywood.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary top plan View further illustrating the structureof the embodiment of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view in section on a line corresponding to line8-8 of Fig. 6, and

Fig. 9 is afragmentary viewin longitudinal section, of a box inaccordance with a still further modified embodiment of the invention,likewise illustrating the manner in which boxes of this type are stackedone on the other.

It is the purpose of the present invention to provide a stacking box orreceptacle which largely eliminates'the use of metal and which is formedin its entirety of inexpensive, readily available materials, which arefurther characterized by the fact that they are light in weight.Notwithstanding the relatively light weight of the materials, however,the box when fabricated in accordance with the invention has amplestrength, ruggedness and rigidity to withstand the rough usage to whichboxes of this type are commonly subjected. Moreover, provision is madeto enable stacking of these boxes one on the other, using stacking barspivotedto the box body in a novel manner, including novel means for preventing lateral displacement of the boxes relative to one another in theaforesaid stacked condition.

Referring to the drawings, in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, I illustrate a stackingbox in accordance with Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation, beingpartially broken away and in section on a line corresponding to line 2'2of Fig. 1, illustrating certain details of the box structureand themanner in which boxes of the character described are stacked one uponthe other.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view further illustrating adetail of the box structure and indicating the. relationship thereto ofthe stacking bars in stacking position.

Fig. 4 is, a fragmentary perspective view illustrating an alternativehinging structure, for the stacking bar of the box.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view, generally similar to Fig. 3,illustrating a modified arrangement for receiving and supporting thestacking bar of the box wall. r

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary View in longitudinal vertical sectionillustrating a somewhat modimy invention, comprising a rectangularbottom I and pairs of end and side Walls 2 2 and 3, 3, respectively,secured to the bottom in inclined relation to one another, the sidewalls 3, 3 being preferably integral with the bottom. The bottom and endand side wall panels are, in accordance with the present invention,fabricated of a. suitable relatively tough, stiff fiberboardcharacterized by its strength and rigidity, in proportion to-weight. Atthe bottom of the box the end walls are bent inwardly and overlappedexternally with bottom member I, the latter being provided at its endswith extensions or flaps which are turned up interiorly of the box endpanels and disposed in side by side relation to said end walls 2.Securement is efiected by rivets 4, those at the bottom being preferablyserving also to secure the wooden skids or runners 5 to thebottom of'thebox.

A supporting and reinforcing rim 6 is provided constituted by the sideand end top rim members I, 8, respectively. Rim 6 projects laterally ofthe wall panels to support the box when it is nested a in anothersimilar box. The manner of associating the rim members with the wallpanels and with one another should be noted particularly inasmuch as itserves to rigidify and brace the walls substantially.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, it will be noted that the end walls 2 are ofsufficient length to afford lateral extensions in flanges 9 at eitherside thereof, which are overlappingly folded around the adjacent endedges of the side panels 3, so as to dispose th thus folded extensionsor portions 9 externally of the side walls at the ends thereof. The siderim members 1 are rabbeted at 91 on the inner side at the ends thereofto accommodate the thus overlapped portions, while disposing the lengthof the side rim members between the rabbets in full lateral supportingengagement with the top of the side walls 3. Note that the innerrabbeted shoulder 92 of the rabbets 9i abuttingly engages the extremityof the overlapped extension 9. This lapped construction and abuttingengagement of the end of the lapped portion 9 serves effectively toprevent inward collapse of the end panel, greatly rigidifying the endstructure.

The end rim members 8 are fabricated in a length to fit snugly betweenth side top members 7 at the rabbeted ends thereof, in end abuttingrelation to the latter, and angular corner reinforced strips lll,preferably of the same fibrous material as the walls, are bent aroundthe thus constituted corner joints tofurther reinforce and bind thesame. Rivets I I are employed to secure the corner reinforcing membersID, the rim members 1, 8, and the walls 2, 3 together in the mannerdescribed.

The reference numeral i2 designates the stacking bars associated withthe present box, which are, in the embodiment under consideration,formed of wood rectangular in section and of a length approximatelyequal to the overall width of the box top. The rim members I and sidewalls are provided with alined recesses l3, also of rectangularsectional outline corresponding to that of the bars l2, for thereception of said bars in the manner illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. Thereinforcing strips I are made sufficiently long on the sides of the boxto extend over and cover the recesses l3 externally of the top members1, and it will be appreciated that in operative stacking position of thebars l2 in said recesses the reinforce strips l0 prevent end movement ofsaid bars in said recesses.

In order to swingably connect said bars to the box for selectiveswinging to and from operative stacking position. I employ strap-likeflexible fabric hinge members Isl, preferably of a suitably strongfibrous material such as webbing, al-

though if desired leather or other equivalent material may be employed.As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, these hinge members are disposed inrecesses I 4 cut in the inner side of the end rim members 8, so as tolie between said members and the end walls 2, with the members otherwisebars and hinge hang at the ends of the box or serve as convenienthandles.

It will be noted in Figs. 1 and 2 that recess I3 is of such depth thatthe stacking bar l2 lies flush with the top of the box in operative orstacking position thereof. In order to prevent longitudinal and unduelateral sliding movement of the boxes on the bars in the stackedrelation thereof, illustrated in solid and dotted lines in Fig. 2, Iprovide the skids or runners 5 with transversely alined rectangularbottom recesses ll spaced longitudinally from one another a distanceequal to the spacing of the stacking bars when they are disposed intheir recess 13. This enables one box to b positioned 0n the other, theengagement of the stacking bars of the lowermost box in the skidrecesses I! of the uppermost serving to prevent longitudinal or endwisemovement while excessive sidewise movement is prevented by the fact thatthe skids 5 are below the upper edge of the supporting box.

Being of tapered construction.the boxes may be readily nested within oneanother when empty, the external overhang of the rim members 1, 8supporting the nested box.

Owing to the structure and arrangement the box is amply strong andrugged to withstand the rough treatment which it receives in use.Recessing of end top members 8 also accommodates hinges l3l in acompact, snug manner. The effect is to substantially brace and rigidifysaid box at the top thereof by a very compact structure indeed. The boxdispenses practically entirely with the use of metal, using only theslight amount represented by the securing rivets.

In Fig. 4 I illustrate a slightly modified embodiment of the box,similar in all respects to that described above except the provisionsfor pivoting or hinging the stacking bar l2 thereto. In this case theflexible hinge 8 is inserted endwise in a slot IS in the stacking barand suitably riveted therein, the hinge extending externally of the sidemember 1. To permit this the reinforce member I0 is reduced in itslength along the side of the box, so that it does not extend externallyover the recess 13 in top member The hinge is swingably pivoted adjacentthe end of the side wall by means of a grommet I!!! or the like,enabling the bar 112 and hing I8 to be swung out- Wardly and externallyof the box. 'The hinge in this case, though flexible and of fibrousmaterial, acts in the manner of a rigid connecting link, rather than inthe manner'of a flexible strap as in Figs. 1-3.

In Fig. 5 I illustrate a slightly modified embodiment of stacking barand rim member structure in which the recess 2| in the rim member andthe end 22 of the stacking bar have dovetailed engagement. This dovetailfeature enables the stacking bar to perform the further function ofpreventing spreading of the side walls, likewise internal collapsethereof, due to the abutting relation of the dovetail'connection, asclearly illustrated in Fig. 5. Obviously. in this form it is unnecessaryto extend the reinforce strip Ill sufliciently to close the external endof the top member recess.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I illustrate an alternative somewhat simplified 'walland bottom structure in which the end and side wall panels 22, 23,respectively, are simply butted together at the corners, rather thanbeing lapped as in the preceding'form's. In this embodiment'the panelsare preferably fabricated of ply wood or similar rigid,

' non-metal material which obviously does not per- 5 mit the lappedrelationship mentioned. Reinforcing members 24, 25 of stiff but bendablefiber are applied around the corners of the box for practically the fullvertical height thereof, i. e., up to the wooden top members, andcontinuously around the bottom periphery of the box at the joint betweenthe bottom forming member and the wall panels. Securement of the fiberreinforce strips 24, 25 to the ply wood panels and bottom is effected byrivets 25, 26. I

The end and side top members 21, 28, respectively, it will be noted inFigs. 6, 7 and 8, are vertically rabbeted on the inner sides thereof andapplied to the end wall panels 22, 23, respectively, by abuttinglyengaging the upper edges of said panels in the rabbet of the topmembers. It should be noted particularly in this embodiment that theflexible hinge .29. is disposed in a slot in the end top members whichis located intermediate the inner and outer side of the latter and insubstantially spaced relation to the inner side, being. secured in saidslot by rivets 39. This affords a wooden surface 3i interiorly of thehinges 29 when the latter are in inoperative position, as illustratedclearly in Fig. 7, on which the top member of a superimposed nested boxmay rest without frictional wearingengagement with the Web of the hinge,such as would tend to reduce the life thereof.

It will also be noted that in Fig. 6 the box under consideration, ratherthan being provided with recesses in the skids 32 thereof, merely has aportion of the material at the ends of the runners removed to provideend shoulders 33 at either end of the runner, which shoulders arereadily engageable between the stacking bars of a box therebeneath.

In Fig. 9 I illustrate a further modified form of the invention,generally similar to that of Figs. 1-3, save that in this case therunners, are not recessed. Excessive and objectionable displacement of asuperposed stacked box is prevented by recessing the top side membersand panels relatively deeply, as illustrated at 34 in Fig. 9, so that instacked position the stacking bar 35 of a supporting box is disposedsufficiently below the upper edge of that box to laterally andlongitudinally engage and restrain the runners of the superposed boxagainst undue movement.

In all of the foregoing embodiments the boxes are, in the main,fabricated of readily and economically available materials, rather thanincorporating substantial amounts of metal which is presentlycomparatively unavailable. Notwithstanding this, they are well bracedagainst collapse, and are likewise characterized by the lightness andinexpensiveness thereof.

Embodiments of the invention which incorporate the principles of theinvention in a highly desirable manner have been illustrated anddescribed, though I am aware that other embodiments within the intent ofthe invention will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. Itshould be understood that the foregoing terminology is used onlydescriptively rather than in a limiting sense, and with full intentionto include equivalents of the features shown and described, within thescope of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A stacking box comprising a bottom and upwardly diverging side andend walls of fiberboard, side and end rim members of wood dis- 6 beingprovided with vertical slots on their inner sides and adjacent the endsthereof, the side walls and'side rim members having upwardly facingstacking bar receiving recesses adjacent the ends thereof, angled cornermembers of fiberboard secured upon the outer sides of said side and endrim member to overlap said stack bar recesses in said side walls andside rim members, stacking bars of wood, and flexible straps secured tosaid stacking bars, the inner ends of said straps being arranged in aidslots in said end rim members and secured therein by rivets arrangedtherethrough and through the end walls, the end rim members and saidcorner members, said stacking bars being adapted to constitute handlesand being swingable on said straps into engagement with said stackingbar recesse or to collapsed position at the ends of the box permittingnesting of one box within another.

2. A stacking box comprising a, bottomand side and end walls offiberboard, side and end rim members of wood disposed on the outer sidesof the side and end walls and secured thereto, the side walls and siderim members having upwardly facing stacking bar receiving recessesadjacent the ends thereof, angled corner members of fiberboard securedupon the outer sides of said side and end rim members to overlap saidstacking bar recesses in said sidewall and side rim members, stackingbars of wood, and flexible straps secured to said stacking bars and tothe ends of said box, said stacking bars being adapted to constitutehandles and being swingable on said strap into engagement with saidstacking bar recesses or to collapsed position at the ends of the boxpermitting nesting of one box within another, said flexible straps beingpositioned to be movable across the top edges of the ends of the boxwhen said stacking bars are moved from an inoperative position outsidesaid box to an operative position in said stacking bar receivingrecesses.

3. A receptacle of the type described, com prising side and end wallpanels, and top reinforcing rim members secured thereto, said rimmembers and panels being secured together in rigid distortion resistantrelationship, stocking bars, flexible hinge-like means connecting saidstacking bars to the ends of the box, said side top members havingrecesses in the top edges thereof for the reception of the stacking barsin operative stacking position thereof, and reinforcing element on saidtop members at the corners of the box having portions extending inexternal covering relation to said recesses to prevent longitudinaldisplacement of said bars therein, said flexible hinge-like means beingpositioned to be moved across the ends of the receptacle when saidstacking bars are moved from an inoperative position outside saidreceptacle to an operative position in said recesses.

4. A stacking box comprising relatively rigid fiberboard side and endwall panels and rim members of wood secured thereto, said rim membersand panels being secured together in rigid distortion resistantrelationship, flexible fabric hinge straps secured to the ends of thebox and positioned to be moved across the upper edges of the ends of thebox, stacking bars of wood secured to the free ends of said straps, theside rim members having, upwardly facing recesses for the reception ofthe stacking bar ends in operative stacking position thereof, andreinforcing elements on said top members t the corners of the box havingportions extending in external covering relation to said recesses toprevent 1ongitudinal displacement of said bars therein.

5. A packing box comprising a bottom, end and side wall panelsfabricated of relatively stiif non-metallic material, rigid rim memberextending along and in side by side supporting engagement with saidrespective panels, said end rim members having recesses spaced from theinner sides thereof adjacent the respective panels, in which flexiblefibrous hinge straps are disposed and secured, and non-metallic stackingbars secured to the free ends of .said straps, the side rim membershaving recesses on the upper edge thereof for supporting reception ofsaid bars, said bottom having longitudinal skids, portions of which areengageable between the stacking bars of a, supporting box in stackedrelationship to dispose said skids below the upper edge of thesupporting box and prevent undue movement of the supported box.

6. A packing box comprising a bottom, end andside wall panelsfabricated, of relatively stiff non-metallic material, rigid rim membersextending along and in side by side supporting engagement with saidrespective panels, said end rim members having recesses spaced from theinner sides thereof adjacent the respective panels, in which flexiblefibrous hinge straps are disposed and secured, and non-metallic stackingbars securecl'to the free ends of said straps, the side rim membershaving'recesses on the upper edge thereof for supporting reception ofsaid bars.

7. A receptacle of the type described comprising side and end Wallpanels and corresponding side and end rim members secured theretoexternally thereof, flexible fibrous hinge members secured to the endpanel rim members having elongated stacking bars on the free endsthereof swingable internally of said box, the side panel rim membershaving alined recesses on the upper edges thereof and spaced from theends thereof and corresponding in sectional outline to that of thestacking bars for the reception of the latter, said recesses providingshoulders to engage the stacking bars to prevent movement of the samelongitudinally of the recessed side panel rim members, and means on saidside panel rim members reinforcing the corner of the box and extendingexternally of said recesses in covering relation thereto to preventlongitudinal displace ment of said bars therein, said flexible hingemembers being ositioned to be moved across the upper edges of the endpanel rim members when the tacking bars are moved from an inoperativeposition outside the receptacle to an operative position in saidrecesses.

EDWARD T. INSOLL.

